Obama warns Egypt, thanks Libya

9/13/12 6:51 AM EDT

President Obama called Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi Tuesday night to "underscore" the importance of securing American missions in the country as protests continued to rage at the U.S. embassy in Cairo.

"Given recent events, and consistent with our interest in a relationship based on mutual interests and mutual respect, President Obama underscored the importance of Egypt following through on its commitment to cooperate with the United States in securing U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel," the White House said in a statement. "The President said that he rejects efforts to denigrate Islam, but underscored that there is never any justification for violence against innocents and acts that endanger American personnel and facilities."

The tenor differed markedly from another statement issued about an Obama call to Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf at roughly the same time. Obama thanked Magariaf for his condolences in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in attacks in Benghazi.

"He also expressed appreciation for the cooperation we have received from the Libyan government and people in responding to this outrageous attack, and said that the Libyan government must continue to work with us to assure the security of our personnel going forward," the White House said in the statement.

"The President made it clear that we must work together to do whatever is necessary to identify the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice. The two Presidents agreed to work closely over the course of this investigation."

Obama also reaffirmed American support for Libya's democratic transition and hailed the election of a new prime minister there Wednesday.

In Egypt, the president's phone call appears to have produced some results. On Thursday, Morsi condemned "unlawful acts" against the U.S. embassy in Cairo and vowed to stop them, the AP reports. But he also expressed displeasure with Americans who made an anti-Islam film believed to have sparked the protests in Egypt.

"We condemn strongly ... all those who launch such provocations and who stand behind that hatred," Morsi said, according to the AP. He said he had asked Obama "to put an end to such behavior."

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Quotable

Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification for this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.